Reducing Barriers to Education

While Canada’s public education system is known for its overall excellence, the reality is much more complex.

In remote First Nations, historical injustices and systemic inequality, coupled with low availability and high turnover of teachers, result in many First Nations youth experiencing significant barriers to education.

The Azrieli Foundation believes empowering everyone with opportunities for education is critical to creating a more just and equal society.

Teach For Canada — an Indigenous-led organization that works with remote First Nations in Northern Ontario and Manitoba to recruit, prepare, retain and support qualified schoolteachers — exists to meet this challenge. We are proud to support it in its mission.

Since 2015, Teach For Canada has helped schools make strides in student outcomes, including increased attendance and engagement and high rates of teacher retention. Its approach includes a rigorous teacher selection process, comprehensive training and support networks to help teachers succeed in Northern classrooms. It also engages in meaningful collaboration with its First Nations community partners to promote their educational autonomy.

What started as a small grant from the Azrieli Foundation in 2017 has grown into a multi-year partnership guided by the shared goal of educational empowerment.

In 2021, Teach For Canada launched new community-led offerings to aid in the development of effective and sustainable school ecosystems. The Foundation committed $1 million to support this strategic goal, which will help the organization work with 45 remote First Nations to directly impact more than 10,000 students.

Executive Director Ken Sanderson says he is grateful for the “unwavering support of the Azrieli Foundation as [Teach For Canada] serves First Nation schools and upholds their all-important efforts to equip future generations.”

Teach For Canada is currently recruiting and supporting teachers to “Go North” while aiming to strengthen local First Nations’ capacity with community-led programming. Its Teacher Assistant (TA) Program supports local TAs, the majority of whom are Indigenous, with personalized skills development, monthly coaching and access to professional and mental health resources. The program also establishes pathways for TAs to become fully certified teachers. In addition to creating employment opportunities, the increased local supply of teachers aims to reduce educator turnover and allow students to see themselves reflected in the positive role models of their communities.

The increased local supply of teachers aims to reduce educator turnover and allow students to see themselves reflected in the positive role models of their communities.

Another new offering, in collaboration with universities, is Teach For Canada’s Northern Practicum Program. Teacher candidates complete a short-term placement in a northern classroom. There, they learn from inspiring northern educators and deepen their understanding of culturally responsive teaching. Once certified, they can become Teach For Canada teachers or may receive an offer of permanent employment, leading to more educators making multi-year commitments to First Nations schools.

By working alongside First Nations to expand core educational resources and infrastructure, Teach For Canada is developing effective, self-sustaining, locally staffed schools — and with our support, helping to enable and launch the next generation of Indigenous educators and leaders.